Hitoshi Yazaki

Hitoshi Yazaki (born November 20, 1956) is a Japanese film director and screenwriter. Born in Kajikazawa-cho, Minamikoma District, Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan, he has maintained a career in the Japanese film industry spanning several decades, beginning in the late 1970s.

Career

Yazaki's directorial debut, Afternoon Breezes (Kaze tachi no gogo), was released in 1980. Throughout his career, he has often served as both the director and screenwriter for his projects. His filmography includes a variety of feature films, such as March Comes in Like a Lion (1991), Strawberry Shortcakes (2006), and Still Life of Memories (2018). His work continues into the 2020s with projects such as Sakura (2020) and As for Me (2025).

Selected Filmography

As Director

Afternoon Breezes (1980)
March Comes in Like a Lion (1991)
The Girl Who Picks Flowers and the Girl Who Kills Insects (2000)
Have a Nice Day (2006)
Strawberry Shortcakes (2006)
Sweet Little Lies (2010)
Love and Treachery (2011)
Taiyou no Suwaru Bashiyo (2014)
A Cappella (2016)
Still Life of Memories (2018)
Sakura (2020)
As for Me (2025)
Okiharu-kun no Namida o Koroshite (2026)